Tag-securing means



Feb. 10,1931- M 1,791,551

- TAG SECURING MEANS Filed Oct. 24, 1927 This Article will nol be ac Plecl lor Credll 0r Ex qnge iF lhis TAG is Re llyecl orMurilaled INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1 931 PATENT rarer MARCUS B. BEHRFLZLN OF BROOKLYN, NEW YGRK, ASSIGNOR TO THE, LOX SEAL COR- PORATION, 0F BRGOKLYE, NEW' YORK, A. CGRPOBATION NEW" YORK TAG-SECURING MEANS Application filed October 24, 1927. Serial No. 228,151.

My present invention relates generally to locking devices, and has'particular reference to irremovable tags or seals, particularly to a fastening device forming a constituent portion thereof. i

More particularly, my invention relates to tags of the character typified in my previous Patent No. 1,359,951 issued November 23, 1920. I will state briefly that such tags are designed for irremovable association with garments or similar articles of merchandise so that the merchant may be protected against defrauding patrons.

Although I have herein illustrated and shall hereinafter describe my invention as applied to tags of such a character, nevertheless it will be understood that as to certain phases of my invention it is by no means limited to such applications, relating in its essence to the irremovable association of a tie element or. fastening device with a sealed chamber.

The tags herein illustrated and typified by those described and claimed in the aforesaid patent embody a. chamber or pocket with which a fastening device is irremovably associated. In this way, the fastening device may be looped through the buttonhole or other similar portion of a garment and may thereafter be irremovably associated with the tag proper, thereby insuring the continued attachment of the tag proper to the garment until such time as the tie element or the tag is destroyed or otherwise mutilated.

One object of my invention is to provide a fastening deviceof the character described, i. e., one which is designed to be passed through a garment and then i'rremovably associated with a tag or similar article embodying a sealed chamber, the fastening device of the present invention embodying features of construction which make it extremely inexpensive to manufacture, simple to apply, and whose contemplated use is highly efiicient in operation.

A more particular object is to provide such a fastening device in the form of a wire element wherein the mere character of material employed and the mere shaping of the wire element will achieve the desirable purposes contemplated.

From its broader aspect, my invention therefore relates to the unwithdrawable passage of a fastening device of such a character through a wall havinga relatively minute aperture. Where the invention is applied to tags, the wall defines a portion of the sealed pocket or chamber typical of suchta s.

One feature of my invention resides in providing' an integral wire element, whereby its manufacture is cheapened to an almost neg ligible amount.

Vhether my device is constructed of an integral element or not, it is a feature of my invention to provide a wire whose end is doubled back upon itself and then across itself so that the crossing portion will prevent withdrawal thereof or retractive movement through the wall.

Broadly, my invention resides in the combination with a sealed chamber of the char actc'r mentioned of two wires whose main portions are exposed externally of the chamber and whose ends extend into the chamber through a wall thereof, the ends being so shaped and constructed as to render it practically impossible to withdraw them. The free portions of th wire are securely united and are designed to provide a loop which engages the garment or other article of merchandise. In a preferred construction, the entire device is constituted of an integral wire element medially bent to provide said loop and said wires.

It is a particular feature of my invention to employ a wire of extreme fineness and of a highly elastic or resilient material such as high quality spring steel. In this way, the device is rendered simple of construction, light in nature, and highly etlicient in fulfilling its functions.

Another feature lies in providing a resilient wire element of this character of a suitable length, fineness and resilience so that the normal positions of the ends are spaced a considerable distance apart, i. e., about four or five times further apart than when they are positioned in the chamber. This combination of structural features makes my device easy to handle, applicable with hardly any effort, yet embodying a tenacity of grip which is of extreme ediciency.

For the attainment of the foregoing ob- 5 jects and such other objects as may herein- 20 wall, the wall forming a part of any apertured sealed chamber of the character hereinhefore referred to.

The tag of Figure 1 may be constructed. of two superposed layers of tag material of which the forward layer is visible in this figure. In the tag shown, the superposed layers have been provided by doubling an integral blank upon itself along a fold line 11. Along this fold line, suitable scoring and steps of manufacture have provided a pocket or chamber 12 in which the ends of av suitable fastening device are designed to position themselves. The superposed walls of the tag proper are irremovably associated with each other as by glue or similar uniting means. The walls of the pocket 12 are not united, as will readily be understood.

A fastening element comprising the wire 13 is shown associated with the pocket 12, the bent" ends thereof being disposed within the pocket and the free or loop portion of the wire extending out of the top wall of the pocket. The exposed or loop portion will have been passed through a. garment before the ends have been irremovably inserted into the chamber 12. V

In Figure 2 I have illustrated a tag of slightly different construction, showing the association of my fastening device therewith. In this tag. the upper superposed layer 14.- of tag material is not coextensive in area with the lower layer but is appliedv thereto merely for purposes of providing a chamber corresponding to the pocket 12. The chamber in the tag of Figure 2 is provided by gluing or similarly uniting the layer 14 to the layer 15 along all but a. substantially circular area 16, the wall portions in this area defining the s led chamber or pocket. An opening 17 is provided in the layer 14 to provide access to the locking chamber or pocket.

A fastening device is shown associated with this tag, its ends being disposed within the W ll the passage through the wall has been e' .3

pocket 16 and its free or loop portion extending out of the opening 17 as shown.

The tags of Figures 1 and 2- typify practical applications of my invention. It will be noted that they both embody a wall portion having a relatively minute aperture through which my fastening device extends and from which association it is practically unwithdrawable.

In Figure 3 I have shown the fastening device by itself. It comprises an integral wire of relatively small thickness and of highly resilient material. It is medially bent as at 18 to provide two angularly disposed legs or ends 19 and 20. The end 19 is bent to provide a rearwardly disposed portion 21, this portion extending at an angle to itself and preferably toward the other end 20. The end 21 is preferably pointed. It is this end which is most easily passed through the buttonhole or similar portion of a g) rmeut during the application thereto of a tag of the character illustrated.

The end 20 doubled ba k upon itself and then across itself, the doubled. back portion extending rearwardly at an angle and preferably toward the opposite end 19. The crossing portion 23 is pointed like the portion 21 and defines an inverted figure 4.

after the fastening device has been looped through a garment or similar article, it is applied to the or similar sealed chamber by merely squeezing the ends 19 and 20 together. Both of these ends enter the pocket r chambersimultaneously. lVhen the end 19 enters, the portion 21 is momentarily de- 'fiected into a more parallel doubled-back position. During the entrance of the end 20, there a similar momentary deflection firs of the angular portion 22 ano then of the crossi portion 23. If desired, the insertion of these ends mays be facilitated by having the operator grasp the device in such a way as to assist the portion 23 in deflecting.

The wire device is of such fineness and such resilience that the foregoing deflections are but momentary, the ends assuming substantially the positions shown in Figure 1 after It will be noted that the withdrawal or the ends is practically impossible without mutilating the wall. The crossing portion 23 is of greater length than the diameter of the opening 24 in the wall 25. This feature alone prevents a withdrawal, but the provision of the pointed tip 26 renders witherawal even more diflicult.

The pointed tip 27upon the portion 21 serves a similar function, and it will be noted that the relative arrangements of the bent ends is such that no possible method of compressing or manipulating the free portions of the device can possibly align the points 26 and 27. It will be noted furtherthat the point 26 is longitudinally out of line with the point 27, and this renders it practically impossible to attempt any withdrawal by simultaneous grasping and pressing together of both points.

It will be obvious that various modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. For example, although the device illustrated has proven sati factory, theportion 21 might in some cases be turned rearwardly away from the end 20 instead of toward this end. Similarly, the portion 21 may be extended so as to double back upon the end 19 in a manner similar to the port-ion 23.

In general, it will be understood that many changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature ofmy invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and 1 illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A fastening device for unwit-hdrawable passage through a wall having a. relatively minute aperture, said device comprising a wire whose end is doubled back at an anglet-o itself and then across itself so as to be normally impassable through said aperture, said wire being resilient so that passage may be effected by momentary deflection of first the angular portion and then the crossing portion.

2. A fastening device for unwithdrawable passage through a wall having a relatively minute aperture, said device comprising a wire whose end is bent rearwardly away from itself and then rearwardly across itself so as to be normally impassable through said aperture, said wire comprising resilient material, whereby said passage may be efiected by momentary deflection of first the angular portion and then the crossing portion.

3. In combination with a sealed chamber of the character described, said chamber including a wall with a relatively minute aperture, a fastening device irremovably associated with said chamber and comprising a wire having its end extending into said chamber through said aperture, said end being doubled back and across itself.

l. In combination with a sealed chamber of the character described and including a wall with a relatively minute aperture, a fastening device irremovably associated with said chamber and comprising two wires having their ends extending into said chamber through said aperture, the external portions of the wires being in mutual association which provide a loop and which are inseparable except by mutilation of said loop, and one of said ends being doubled back and across itself.

5. Incombination with a sealed chamber of the character described and including a wall with a relatively minute aperture, a

fastening device irremo-vably associated with said chamber'and comprising two wires having their ends extending into said chamber through said aperture, the external portions of the wires being in mutual association which provide a loop and which are inseparable except by mutilation of said loop, one

of said ends bein doubled back and across J 1 r i itself, and the other or said ends being doubled back at an angle to itself.

6. In combination witn a sealed chamber of the character described and including a .wall with a relatively minute aperture, a

fastening device irremovably associated with said chamber and comprising two wires having their ends xtending into said chamber through said aperture, the external portions of the character described and including a wall with a relatively minute aperture, a fastening device irremovably associated with said chamber and comprising two wires having their ends extending into said chamber through said aperture, the external portions of the wires being in mutual association which provide a loop and which are inseparable except by multilation of said loop, one of said ends being doubled back and across itself, and the other of said ends being doubled back at an angle to itself, the tips of said ends being pointed and extending in the same direction.

8. In combination with a sealed chamber of the character described and including a wall with a relatively minute aperture, a fastening device irremovably associated with said chamber and comprising two wires having their ends extending into said chamber through said aperture, the external portions of the wires being in mutual association which provide a loop and whi h are inseparable except by multilation of said loop, one of said ends being doubled back and then across itself, and the other of said ends being doubled back toward the first named end and at an angle to itself.

9. In combination with a sealed chamber of the character described and including a wall with a relatively minute aperture, a fasis ening device irremovably associated with aid chamber and comprising two wires having their ends extending into said chamber through said aperture, the external portions of the wires being in mutual association which provide a loop and which are inseparable except by mutilation of said loop, one of said ends being doubled back toward the other end and then across itself, and said other end being doubled back toward the first named end.

10. In combination with a sealed chamber of the character described, said chamber including a Wall with a relatively minute aperture, a fastening device irromovably associated with said chamber and comprising a medially bent Wire having its ends extending into said chamber through said aperture, one of said ends being doubled back and across itself, and said Wire being resilient and normally tending to assume a position wherein its ends are approximately four or five times further apart than they are when positioned in said chamber.

11. A tag hanger comprising a Wire bent into a pair of legs one of Which has a hook bent backwardly therefrom between said legs and extending ontimrdly across the leg from which it is bent, in combination with a tag containing a pocket housing said hook and the leg sections adjacent thereto.

In Witness whereof I have signed this specification.

MARCUS B. BEHRMAN. 

